L. A. F. F.    Email: laffadupre@yahoo.com

                                                                                                       Website: laffnet.org

A Publication of the Louisiana Association of Fairs and Festivals            Al Dupré, Jr., Editor

 

 

October 2006 Edition

 

 

 

 

 

       PRESIDENT’s MESSAGE:

 

I truly believe that you have never seen the state of Louisiana until you have visited fairs and festivals and meet with so many amazing individuals who take great pride in their events.  This is what makes the state of Louisiana a true celebration.

 

This month I have been very busy.  I have audited many pageants, and visited several festivals, I even went to a festival on a Sunday and it was finished on the Saturday, but I had an enjoyable trip visiting with Rob Piraro. 

 

First I would like to thank the Shrimp and Petroleum Festival President Natalie Weber and Board members for showing me such great hospitality during their weekend event.

I never saw such an amazing fireworks display such as theirs with the fireworks being presented over the river.  To the Mayor of Morgan City, Tim Matte thank you for allowing my wife and me to witness this spectacular event from your office, I actually felt that the fireworks were coming straight towards us.  Also a special thanks to Brent and Rose Bergeron for being a guest at their home during the parade.  It was an honor to be invited by the Shrimp and Petroleum Board to be introduced on stage while my wife Natalie and I welcomed the new 2006 queen Leisha Brocato and the new 2006 king, Mr. Bob Miller. To Abby Braus the outgoing 2005 Shrimp Petroleum queen and her parents, thanks for everything, you were an amazing queen, and you are such an amazing young lady.

 

I audited the Natchitoches Meat Pie pageant, and my wife judged.  We had a good time visiting Natchitoches along with Al and Mona Dupré.  Al judged and Mona assisted me with auditing.  To Alisa Yelverton District 6 Director you did a great job with the Natchitoches Meat Pie pageant.

 

I also audited the Junior Miss Allen Parish Equilla Victorian all I have to say about your pageant is WOW.  If you have never attended this pageant, you have missed out on one fantastic production.  This was one of the best productions at a pageant that I have ever seen, Equilla you did an amazing job.

 

I also audited the Baby and Junior Division pageant for the Cattle Festival. 

As always they did a great job, and they look forward to their Miss and Ms. Competition which will be held in October.

 

October is the busiest month that Louisiana has to offer of its fairs and festivals.

So I highly encourage you to get out and travel this beautiful state. We need to support our friends in this industry.

 

Just a reminder that the search committee for the new pageant coordinator will be meeting before the October board meeting, so if you are interested and have not yet submitted a resume’ please do so as soon as possible.

 

As I travel this state, I always stop to visit with the carnival directors, they are also very important to the fairs and festivals industry.   I especially enjoyed my visit with Deltas Mitchell and his son Gus since they are at most of the fairs, I usually visit with Gus while he is tending to business outside, and for some reason his father Deltus is running the business from inside.  Not sure of the reason?????????????

 

Hope to see you on the highways or byways….

 

 

s/ Dennis Mouton   

             

  

                TREASURER’s  REPORT:

Let's hope that the nice, cool weather continues  --  kinda feels like 

Fall, doesn't it?!  Everyone is invited out to the Louisiana Cattle 

Festival on October 6-8 in good ole downtown Abbeville  --  we have a 

great lineup of bands playing and wonderful events planned for the whole 

family.

Neal and I attended the La. Pageant Judges Assn. quarterly meeting on 

October 1 in Carencro at Prejean's Restaurant.  Wonderful plans are 

being made for our Extravaganza, which will be held on May 6 from 1 to 3 

P.M., probably at the Rayne Civic Center Ballroom.  I will announce later 

the definite town and place at which it will be held.  All persons 

interested in any facet of pageants are invited to attend.

As usual, if either Neal or I can be of any assistance to your 

fair/festival, please feel free to call upon us.  We love to judge pageants and 

to assist in any way needed.  Just contact us at bnhoraist@cox.net or at 337-893-6328.

Keep cool,

 s/ Barbara T. Horaist

 

SECRETARY’s REPORT:

 

At the beginning of the month, Mona & I took our annual trek to the Shrimp and Petroleum Festival in Morgan City where we met Dennis & Natalie Mouton as we toured the grounds.  As usual we had a special time at a great event.  We enjoyed the food, crafts, entertainment and a wonderful visit with the festival folks as well as Deltus, Gus, Ralph and several other members of the Mitchell Brothers Carnival.  Next we traveled to Natchitoches, the oldest town in the Louisiana Purchase - to judge the Natchitoches Meat Pie pageant.  That Saturday morning, as the “other judges” were judging the younger categories; Natalie Mouton, Mona and I had time for a tour of the historic riverfront area of the town.  It is always a joy to visit this area that never forgets its history.  Mona & I were treated royally by everyone with the Meat Pie festival.  LAFF President Dennis Mouton recruited Mona to help with auditing the pageant and she really enjoyed her participation; thanks Dennis.  I can not thank District Six Director, Alisa Yelverton enough for the invitation to judge.  When you want to visit Natchitoches, consider one of their wonderful Bed & Breakfasts – call me I have a recommendation for a great one.  Towards the end of the month we traveled to Garyville (the day before the reinstituted LSU-Tulane wheelbarrow event) to judge the new Fleur De Lis Pageant (look for a new member of LAFF).  Not long after we arrived, who do we see but old friends (and District 7 Director), Warren and “Tootsie” Deemer, as he was invited to judge also.  Thanks to Katrina Levron and all the pageant members for a wonderful time in Garyville. 

 

Heard some good news from Paula Cappiello of a member event that is “coming back” from severe hurricane damage.  The Plaquemines Parish Fair & Orange Festival recently had their pageant and has a new Queen, Miss Ashley Melissa Johnson, daughter of Tony and Kathy Johnson of Belle Chasse was selected to reign as our 2006 Orange Queen.  Kathy, Ashley's Mother was our 1971 Orange Queen.  All of the festival members invite everyone to the Orange Festival on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, December 1st, 2nd & 3rd, at the Medal of Honor Park in Belle Chasse. 

 

Please make the information in the newsletter available to your fair/festival members.  If you wish anyone else in your event to receive the newsletter via email, please either type or print very clearly these email addresses and send to laffadupre@yahoo.com.  Also, check the website (www.laffnet.org) for the newsletter, updates and other member information. 

 

If you need any help with your fair or festival, especially in  judging a pageant or other type of contest or just needing any assistance in general, please send an e-mail to:  GOTOBUTTON BM_1_ laffadupre@yahoo.com  or call me at: 985-447-4658 or write: 2402 Elizabeth Street, Thibodaux, LA 70301

 

s/ Al Dupré

 

 

DISTRICT 3 DIRECTOR

 

     We are now in the month of October and the year is passing very quickly. We can start looking forward to the convention in February. The awards are starting to come in already. Hope all of you are getting your paperwork ready to send them in.

      This month was a little slow for the festivals in district 3. On September 16, I had the pleasure of judging the Jr. Miss Allen Parish Queen contest for Miss Equilla Victorian. I would like to thank Equilla for the great time. Hard working people over in Oberlin.

       On the next weekend my wife, Vicki and I went to the Ragley Heritage & Timber Festival for there Miss Ragley Queen’s pageant. We were asked to judge for that pageant. We had a good time there also. We would like to thank Pam Courmier and Dorothy Martin for all they did to make our stay there a pleasant one. It is always a pleasure to give our time to help someone. 

      Until next month if there is anything that I can do for anyone please call or email me.

 

s/ Jim Meaux

 

 

 

DISTRICT 5 DIRECTOR

 

  Fall is now here and there are several exciting events getting ready to take place in North Louisiana.  On October 3 - 7 is the N.E. Louisiana Cotton Festival & Fair in Bastrop, LA.  On October 7 - 14 is the Red River Revel Arts Festival in Shreveport, LA.  This is one of the premier arts festivals in the country.  Good luck Kip and staff on a successful run this year.  On October 13 - 15 is the La. Antique Tractor & Equipment Festival in Simsboro, LA.  I wish all of these events the best of luck and hope their festivals run smoothly.

     At the State Fair of Louisiana, we will be celebrating our 100th Anniversary from October 26 - November 12.  "The Wild 100" is packed with entertainment, livestock competitions, carnival, concessions and crafts and rodeo.  This year, we will hold the State Fair Queen's Pageant on November 4, 2006.  Contestants can find the information on our website.  Check us out at www.statefairoflouisiana.com.  The winner in the Miss State Fair division will receive $1,000.00 and will be sent to the LAFF Queen of Queens competition in Baton Rouge.  

     Speaking of the LAFF convention, it is fast approaching.  Paul McGee and the rest of the LAFF Board have an exciting convention planned "Welcome to Fabulous LAFF Vegas".  It is sure to be a convention that you won't want to miss, so get your registrations in and your rooms reserved.  I will miss the next Board meeting due to my workload with the State Fair, but I know that the rest of the board will do a great job.

 

s/ Chris Giordano

 

 

DISTRICT 6 DIRECTOR

Happy Fall Y'all! We have been having such pretty weather in our area.  But, on the other hand we could sure use some rain.  Toledo Bend Lake is really low.  Probably the lowest it's been in years. 

I directed the 4th annual Natchitoches Meat Pie Festival Pageant on September 9th.  I would like to thank Pam Courmier, Dorothy Martin, Al Dupré, Natalie Mouton and Carol Ware for lending their judging expertise for the day.  I would also like to thank Dennis Mouton and Mona Dupré for auditing.  They all did a wonderful job.  I hope they enjoyed their weekend in Natchitoches.  My new Miss Queen is Autumn Burkett.  Autumn will represent our festival during the LAFF convention and Queen of Queens pageant. 

On September 15 & 16, I attended the Natchitoches Meat Pie Festival.  There were many bands playing throughout the weekend.  On Saturday, the pageant sponsored a Queen's meat pie eating contest for ages 12 and above.  Kimily Taylor, Miss Beauregard Parish, won the contest and $20 in cash.  Miss Meat Pie, Autumn Burkett, and Teen Miss Meat Pie, Hanna Benoit, took their visiting royalty on a carriage ride and toured Natchitoches, The attendance at the festival this year was a little less than the year before.  Northwestern State University was having their first home game, so a lot of people were at the game.  Also on September 15 & 16th, the Marthaville Good Days had their annual festival.  They kicked their festival off the gospel music on Friday night.  Saturday was the parade, dance and cheer competitions, food booths, arts-n-crafts and bands.  The NSU ballgame affected their festival, as well.  On a whole, both festivals had high attendance numbers and were enjoyed by many. These festivals are within 15 miles of one another. 

On September 23rd, I joined Jim and Vicki Meaux near Ragley to judge the Ragley Heritage and Timber Festival Pageant.  This pageant is directed by Pam Courmier.  Their new Miss Queen is Amber Ware.  Amber will represent the Heritage and Timber Festival at Queen of Queens in February of 2007.  I am sure she will represent them well.  She is a very beautiful and intelligent girl.  Pam had a successful pageant and everything went well.  Thanks to Pam for inviting me to participate.  Good luck with your festival.

On September 30th, Tracy Tousek-Harris, Tamara Jones and I judged the West LA Forestry Festival.  The pageant was directed by Julie Harvey and Ramona Tuck.  The pageant was well organized and very entertaining.  Their new Miss Queen is Laine West.  She will go on to represent them throughout the state and at Queen of Queens.  She seems very excited to get started with her year. 

I attended my first LPJA meeting in Carencro on October 1st.  I enjoyed the meeting and am contemplating joining their association.  We had a guest speaker on ethics and a presentation on some of the new styles in evening gowns and suits.  I enjoy judging and learning new aspects of the pageant industry. 

The first week of October is the West LA Forest Festival.  The first weekend is the Lecompte Pie Festival and Robeline Heritage Festival.  You may contact me or the festival for more details, if you are interested in attending.  The second weekend is the Zwolle Tamale Fiesta.  All these festivals will all have parades and other activities.  I wish them great success and look forward to visiting your festivals in the upcoming weeks. 

The LA Pecan Festival will hold its' annual pageant on October 21st.  Those interested in participating in the pageant can contact Dawna at 318-627-3435.  Their festival will take place the first weekend in November.  They usually have a very big turnout for their festival.  I wish them good luck with the pageant and festival. 

I hope I didn't miss anyone.  Please keep in mind if anyone needs any assistance on festival day or with their pageant, please do not hesitate to call me 318-527-6626. 

I am also planning the LAFF quarterly meeting, which will be held in Natchitoches.  I would like to invite everyone from District 6 to come and attend the meeting and have lunch with us.  The meetings are really very interesting and informative.  I look forward to seeing you all there.  Call or email me for details. 

 

s/ Alisa Yelverton

 

DISTRICT 7 DIRECTOR

 

Here we go again; the fair and festival season in District 7 is in full swing.  There is not one weekend that I don’t have somewhere to go if not three or four places.  I do want to thank all the District 7 Fairs and Festivals that responded so quickly to my questionnaires for information on their 2007 event.  There are still some who have not responded, and I do hope that you will respond soon.  Your LAFF board is striving to get the updated information in as quickly as possible so that we can print the Fairs and Festivals Guide to be ready for January distribution.

 

Many things are happening throughout the state and the LAFF Board is being well represented at most events.  Don’t be bashful, invite your Director or Executive Board and I assure you that you will have representation from LAFF there.  Many of the Board Members are being utilized as Judges, Emcees, and Auditors.  If you would like assistance from one of us, just e-mail or call, if doesn’t hurt to ask. 

 

Congrats to all the outgoing Festival Queen’s, you have all done such a great job for your Fairs or Festivals, and you have represented LAFF well.  To the Incoming Queen’s, put on some comfortable shoes and hit the ground running, as your predecessor covered lots of ground and you have a task ahead to match or exceed her efforts.

 

I will be real busy in October and November, but if you need me for anything, please call me and I will do my best to assist.  I will be assisting at the Gretna Heritage Festival on the 6^th and 8^th of October, cooking Gumbo.  On October 13^th, 14^th, and 15^th, I will be busy at the Bridge City Gumbo Festival, on the 20^th, and 21^st of October I will be busy with the Coronation for the Bridge City Gumbo Festival.  On the Weekend of October 28^th and 29^th, The Westwego Cypress Swamp Festival will hold its Queen’s Day and Pageant, of which I am a member and advisor.  November brings Golf Tournaments that I am helping to organize, then the 10^th, 11^th, 12^th, is the Westwego Cypress Swamp Fest, along with the Destrehan Plantation Fall Festival, and the St. Clement of Rome Oyster Festival.  In my free time, which is very slim, I will try to visit other Districts events. 

 

Please remember to send in your event information for the coming year to your District Director so that we can get the Fairs and Festivals Guide ready for print, with the correct dates so that your event can get the maximum benefits from your event guide.  Until next month I hope you find fair winds, good weather and plenty of money for your event.

 

s/ Warren Deemer

 

 

2007 QUEEN OF QUEENS INFORMATION

 

As stated above, the Queen of Queen’s Pageant information packets have been mailed; your director should have received their packet.  The information can also be accessed from the website.

 

It is very important that every sponsoring fair or festival know that LAFF will not be blocking hotel rooms for queens in 2007.  It is up to each individual organization to make their hotel room reservations for their queens EARLY.

 

The deadline to enter Queen of Queens and to have all ads turned in will be December 1, 2006 because of the early dates for Convention 2007.  LAFF will still take entries until January 1, 2007, but no photographs of any queens entered after the deadline of December 1^st will be put in the program book.  Encourage your queens to have their photographs done early and to get their entry forms and photographs turned in to me, Janet Piraro, no later than December 1^st, 2006. 

 

If anyone is interested in serving on the 2007 Pageant Committee, please get in touch with me.  2007 will be my last year to serve as Pageant Coordinator and I look forward to working with as many of you as possible.

 

Please be aware that LAFF is not going to be blocking rooms for queens in 2007.  It will be the responsibility of every fair or festival to make arrangements for their queen and, as always, we advise you to book EARLY; as rooms will be not held for anyone!

                                                                             

POSTER CONTEST RULES

 

1.   Subject of poster shall be: “My Fair/Festival”.

            Name, location and date of event must be on poster.

2.   Any public, private, or parochial school student may participate.

3.   Poster will be judged in four categories:

A.  Grades  1 - 3

B.  Grades  4 - 6

C.  Grades  7 - 9

D.  Grades 10 - 12

4.   Poster must be displayed on 14" X 22" white poster paper.  (½ sheet of standard            

      poster paper).

5.   All work must be vertical.  Nothing horizontal will be judged.

6.   All lettering must be free-hand.  Do not use Stencils.

7.   Medium used shall be: Crayon; Water Color; Acrylics, Felt-Tip Pen; or Oil. 

      No Cut-outs nor Collage.

8.   First, Second, and Third place winners in each category are eligible for state      

            competition.        

       Limit of Twelve (12) posters per event.

9.   Posters will be judged and points awarded as follows:

Originality    35%

Theme          25%

Neatness       25%

Spelling       15%

10.  Poster Prizes:

Third Place         $25.00

Second Place      $50.00

First Place           $75.00

One Best Overall $100.00

11.  Information cards (5X7 index cards) should include the following:

Name           Address

Telephone      Parents

Category       Fair/Festival

This should be placed on the left top corner of poster in such a way that it can be

flipped over from front to back.

12.  All posters must be presented by 5:00 PM on Friday of the annual convention.

 

Chairman:       Kaye Ladner

LAFF District IV Director

27280 R. F. Ball Road

                                    Franklinton, Louisiana 707438

985-848-5937

Fax 985-839-9164

Email: wpfairlady@yahoo.com

 

                                               ESSAY CONTEST

 

                                             Theme: “Rebuilding LA, is it a gamble?”

 

Rules and Regulations:

1.   Essay must contain between 500 and 800 words.

2.   Name of contestant MUST NOT be written on the essay but must be written on a separate sheet and clipped, not stapled to the essay.

3.   On a separate sheet, contestant should follow this format:

    Name:  Address:   Grade:  Phone:  Parents Name: School Name:   Fair/Festival Represented:

4.   Essay may be handwritten or typed.

5.   Spelling, grammar, phraseology, general interest, continuity and adherence to theme will be determining factors for selecting the winning essay.

6.   The categories: A. Grades 6 - 8; B. Grades 9 - 12.

7.   Information used from sources should be acknowledged in a bibliography.

8.   Pictures or diagrams can be included within contest of essay or in appropriate appendix.

9.   Essay must be in the hands of Chairman no later than January 5, 2007.

10.  Criteria for judging:

Content (adherence to theme) ........... 40%

Grammar (punctuation, capitalization) .. 25%

Continuity (introduction, body,

sentence structure, conclusion) .... 20%

Spelling ............................... 15%  

11.  Essay Prizes (State Level)*

1st.  $150   2nd. $100   3rd. $50

*All fairs should use this theme on the local level for elimination purposes; only the top three winners should be submitted on state level.

12.  All essays become the property of LAFF.  The first place winners will be published in a collection by groups.

 

Chairman:

DAVID BOURDIER

P. O. Box 762

Patterson, LA 70392

985-395-3720

 

 

EVENTS TO ATTEND

 

With the recent storms, information has been updated as available, always call before going; especially this year!

 

September 30 - October 7

Red River Revel Arts Festival (5)

Shreveport

 

October 3 - 7

Beauregard Parish Fair (2)

DeRidder

 

October 3 - 8

N. E. LA Cotton Festival & Fair (5)

Bastrop

 

October 5 - 8

St. Tammany Parish Fair (4)

Covington

 

October 6 - 8

Gretna Heritage Festival (7)

Gretna

 

October 6 - 8

LA Cattle Festival (3)

Abbeville

 

October 6 - 7

Robeline Heritage Festival (6)

Robeline

 

October 7

Hungarian Harvest Festival (4)

Albany

 

October 8 – 14

West Louisiana Forestry Festival (5)

Leesville

 

October 10 - 15

LA Cotton Festival (2)

Ville Platte

 

        October 10 - 15

         Livingston Parish Fair (4)

         Livingston

 

        October 13 - 15

        Bridge City Gumbo Festival (7)

        Bridge City